Testimonials

Below you can read the testimonies of some of our previous volunteers.

Radosveta Valkova, Volunteer English Teacher
It’s not very easy to explain my experience in Nepal but one word (as a starter) is AMAZING. Through Helambu Project I was able not only to visit places which not many westerners have visited in the Himalayas but also to live in a local village and be part of the life of the locals.

I stayed in Okhrani which has only about 20 houses but the people are so hospitable and nice that it was hard for me to refuse anything even when it was my first time drinking milk in 25 years. The kids at the small school were great. Their desire to learn and their wide-open eyes at the sight of colored books are things I will never forget. Their games in the mountains with stones and the frisbee (which was the only toy) are memories I will take with me wherever I go. The love and affection that I received from the kids and the people in the village are always in my heart.

My life there for a month changed me forever. And I would encourage anyone who can donate their time and money to try it. It is not for everyone. The experience in Nepal is special and hard. But if you can do it, you will have a life-changing experience and memories that will stay with you forever.

Jane Woods, Volunteer English Teacher

I had a fantastically interesting and diverse experience volunteering with Helambu Project. The charity is wholeheartedly organised and supportive of it’s volunteers. For instance, before I left for Nepal it was easy to keep in constant contact with the organisation who always answered all of my questions and concerns promptly and in detail. When I arrived in Kathmandu I was met at the airport and had the option of going straight to the village or spending a few days acclimatizing. My plans kept changing (in terms of the amount of time I wanted to volunteer/travel for) and this was always accommodated graciously by the organisation. I was supported voluntary wise in terms of getting to the village, and any translating that was needed with my host family and the school where I was teaching. Overall, I really enjoyed working for Helambu Project, I taught English to a variety of children and lived with a wonderfully friendly and caring host family who I know I will continue to stay in contact with. Thank you for a worthwhile and fulfilling life experience, I hope to work for you again some day!

Wes Winslow, Volunteer Organic Farmer

Working with the Helambu Project and all the people involved with the organization was an experience that was not just worthwhile but time genuinely well spent. Traveling can be a tedious venture when you’re young and have aspirations of placing your efforts not only toward adventure but also a purpose. Volunteering with the Helambu Project granted me the opportunity to satisfy both of my needs of gaining experience with an international non-government-organization and also being exposed to an exotic country in the midst of drastic political and potential cultural change.

I was fortunate enough to work with the Helambu Project on a project of constructing a greenhouse and helping with the day to day chores at the village. I worked with fellow volunteers as well as hired school employees in a cooperative effort. By the end of my time with the school I had not only worked on a greenhouse but I also effectually formed a small family of like minded people from around the world who I will remember for the rest of my life.

Ambition and a positive attitude are helpful if you plan to volunteer with Helambu Project. Equally important is a willing ability to adapt to the village lifestyle and all the intrinsic qualities of Nepal. Nepal is renowned for its mountainous terrain and mystic Himalayan cultures, but an important thing to remember is that humans are humans regardless of where they are and how different their day to day lifestyle is. I am happy to have gained the experience that I did with the Helambu Project and recommend volunteering to people who are open to helping without any preconceived notions of what a non-governmental-organization ought to be.

If you want to ask Wes about his volunteer experience, you can email him at wesdwinslow@netscape.net. If you have any questions about our volunteering program, please email us at volunteers@helambuproject.org.

Aby Simons, Volunteer Teacher

Since leaving the village I have realized how much I have gained from being there. The village was inspiring, living with such hard working and humble people has really made me change my attitude about a lot of things; what is important in life and what is not. The school was great, set amongst the hills in the jungle, completely isolated from the outside. The students and teachers are both so hard working and resilient!

I was teaching English and helped start an art class. The children are great, nicer than you can imagine, they are so sweet, loving and really well behaved.

The school is incredible, to know that it is so young and has achieved so much in this short time. It was a humbling experience, one I would recommend to everyone. Really, you WILL love it!

I was able to teach two classes per day, each lasting 40 minutes. The timings of the classes varied and were flexible. I chose how many I wanted, I thought 2 per day would be a good start with an idea of including more. The classes were a complete joy to teach, the children and their English speaking abilities were surprising, some really knew a lot and were very outspoken and some knew a little less and were quite shy.

I had a lot of fun playing games with the students and most of them love to paint so we would do a lot of art with the donated art materials. One activity they especially enjoyed was being read to, all the students, even the older ones, LOVED to be read to. So much so they crowded around me to see the pictures in the book and listen to me telling the story.

Being a newly certified teacher, there were some obstacles that I had to deal with, I had to plan lessons without using a printer or photocopier. It just meant that I had to be more resourceful and experimental and thought up a lot of games and used the white board more which was good. Who needs loads of wasteful paper anyway?

It was liberating to be there, to be free from these modern world restrictions. To live with people who are so appreciative of everything. The nature is hard to believe sometimes and there is plenty of time to wander around the hills and investigate for yourself. Overall, a great volunteer experience, the people who live in the village and work in the school really made it special for me. I am so thankful to have been to Ganghkarka, it really does hold a special place in my heart.

If you want to ask Aby about her volunteer experience, you can email her at abysimons@hotmail.com. If you have any questions about our volunteering program, please email us at volunteers@helambuproject.org.